The Power of The Home Recording Studio

Hey there, my lovely Rainbow Flipper Musical Explosion listeners! I want to take this moment to write about how home music studios have totally, and utterly, revolutionized the entire music scene! I'm blown away by how much impact they've had on the industry...as long as one has themselves the proper hardware and software, the world is their oyster! These days, literally, anyone with a laptop and a microphone can create top-notch sounding tracks right from their home. Apartments. Garages. No need for fancy studios or big budgets anymore! Kiss the studio musician, once revered, now, no longer needed. This isn't a good thing at all. Any lover of music and instantly hear the dif between a studio musician in the groove and an artist alone in their home, synthetically and digitally, creating the music background. A variety of faux instruments at your fingertips! It sounds coo, don't get me wrong. I'm just pointing out a ton of us, can hear the battle of soul versus tech.

One major way home music studios have shaken things up is by giving artists full creative control. No more dealing with pushy producers, A&R, or record labels telling you what to do. You call the shots now, brothers and sisters! This freedom has led to a surge in unique sounds and styles, flooding the music market. You hear home produced tracks in ads, television shows and movies. Unless you're a Taylor Swift or Elton John, it's very hard for some bands and songwriters to make bank on tour. A lot comes from high priced ticket sales and merchandise. Home studios offer a way to still be talented and creative, while expanding reach. Social media platforms, major online advertising companies, streamers are all the places one can use to build an audience and get work heard!

And let's not forget about the democratization of music production! Back in the day, only the elite few could actually afford studio time. More often than not, that's where the labels and producers come in as they paid for studio time, knowing the end result would provide a financial return and profit! But now, with affordable equipment and software at our fingertips, everyone can dive into music-making. This has opened doors for so many talented folks who might have never had a chance otherwise...

What the Hell Happened to Doo-Wop?

Hey there, my Flippers! Let's chat about the rise and fall of doo wop music from the 1950s. As you may or may not know, back in the day, doo wop was all the rage, with those sweet harmonies and catchy tunes making literally everyone swoon. Groups like The Platters and The Drifters were topping the charts and straight-up, owning the airwaves. But as time went on, something changed, and doo wop seemed to fade away like last week's leftovers.

Now, let's get real about why this dope and creative music style took a nosedive. One big reason was the shift in popular music tastes! The 1960s brought in the British Invasion with bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones stealing the spotlight. Suddenly, doo wop was old news, kinda like trying to rock a mullet in the era of man buns (did I actually just write that?!). The music scene moved on, leaving our beloved doo wop in the dust. Left for dead. So long, Mister Bassman. 

But hey, don't fret too much. While doo wop might not be topping the charts these days, its influence can sorta still be felt in modern music. Artists like Bruno Mars, Meghan Trainor, Amy Whinehouse (RIP) and Adele, have drawn inspiration from those soulful harmonies and smooth melodies. So, even though doo wop may have taken a backseat (without a seatbelt), its legacy lives on in the music we groove to today...even if you have to pay a little bit of extra attention.